BADAL FOR PARADIGM SHIFT FROM GREEN TO WHITE REVOLUTION

SAS NAGAR (MOHALI) OCTOBER 3, 2009

The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today underlined the need for paradigm shift from green to white revolution as dairy farming has emerged far more profitable preposition as compared to traditional agriculture.
Mr. Badal was addressing the producers of various milk societies and board of directors of Milkfed at a function to disburse bonus and dividend to the tune of Rs.3.17 crore to the milk producers and societies for the last two years here at Verka Milk Plant. The Chief Minister called upon the farmers to switch over from the traditional agriculture to dairy farming as the practice of extensive sowing of Paddy had proved to be detrimental to our natural resources both in terms of depleting underground water table and loss of fertility of soil texture. He pointed out that though it was profitable in terms of money but had cost us dear at the expanse of our natural resources. He even said that our farming community had produced paddy for the entire nation to save people from starvation but they had not been fully compensated by the Centre for all this.

Dwelling on the significance of dairying, Mr. Badal said that the state government had already been giving subsidy of Rs.1.5 lakh for the construction of shed for atleast 12-15 cows/buffalos and said the Milkfed had already embarked upon a massive programme to improve the variety of buffalos through artificial insemination and embryo transfer technology. He stressed the need to make use of these innovative technologies on commercial scale to boost the growth of dairy and achieve the quantum jump in the milk production of the state.

The Chief Minister appreciated the concerted efforts of the Milkfed which had fixed the target of annual turn of Rs.1500 crore for the current year from its domestic sales and exports as compared to the turn over of Rs.750 crore during last years.

Taking a serious view of the prevalent menace of adulteration in milk and milk products from synthetic milk and preparation of spurious milk and milk products by unscrupulous elements, the Chief Minister asked the Milkfed to enhance the production of milk to ensure pure and safe milk to the consumers on one hand and supply bulk sweets in the market especially during the festival season on the other.

The Chief Minister also emphasized the need to utilize the services of technically sound and skilled personnel in the milk plants especially of the graduates in dairying from Guru Angad Dev Veterinary Animal Sciences University (GADVASU) to enhance the production of milk both quantitatively as well as qualitatively. Referring to the orientation courses for the milk producers, Mr. Badal said that structuring of training courses should be need based and the opinion of the experts of the GADVASU should be taken into consideration while revamping the training courses.

The Chief Minister announced to convene of a meeting of all the board of directors of Milkfed, its chairman and senior officers of Milkfed tomorrow evening to resolve the pending issues like recruitment of technical staff and decentralization of powers.

Earlier, Mr. Badal inaugurated the Milk Bar-Cum-Fast Food Complex - a joint venture of Milkfed and the Punjab Tourism here at Verka Milk plant. He also laid the foundation stone of Rs.35 crore projects to enhance the capacity of milk handling from 1 lakh to 5 lakh Liters per day with technically support from National Dairy Development Council.
Speaking on the occasion, Tourism & Cultural Affairs Minister Mr.Hira Singh Gabaria announced that the tourism department would soon set up Milk Bar-Cum-Fast Food Complexes in all the milk plants of the state on the same pattern of one which had been inaugurated today.

Prominent amongst others who spoke on the occasion included MLA Gurdaspur & Chairman Milkfed Mr.Gurbachan Singh Babehali, Chairman Verka Milk Plant Mohali Mr.Parminder Singh Chalaki and Managing Director Milkfed Mr.VK Singh and General Manager Mr. Balbir Singh. The Chief Minister was accompanied by his Principal Secretary Mr. DS Guru and OSD Mr.NS Sangha.

The function was attended by MLA Morinda Mr. Ujjagar Singh Wadali, MLA Banur Mr. Jasjit Singh Bunny, Chairman District Planning Committee Mohali Mr. NK Sharma, Senior SAD leader Mr. Harsukhwinder Singh Bubby Badal,s Working Committee Member SAD Jathedar Amrik Singh Mohali, District President BJP Mr. Khushwant Rai Geega, President BKU Balbir Singh Rajewal,DIG Mr. S.K Asthna, Deputy Commissioner Prabjot Singh Mand and S.S.P G.P.S Bhullar besides senior officers of district civil and police administration. Employees of the Milkfed and the producers of the various milk unions across the state also participated in the function.

Later addressing the media persons, the Chief Minister categorically said that the state government would erect a suitable memorial at Chapar Chiri in the memory of Baba Bandha Singh Bahadur.
To another question, Mr. Badal said that there was no law & order problem in the state and people of Punjab were fully aware about the significance of peace as they had suffered miserably at the hands of decade long militancy in the state.

TEACHERS FROM ASSAM CALLS ON CM

Chandigarh, October 4, 2009

A delegation of Council for Teacher Education (CTE), Assam Chapter today called on Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal and apprised him with the education system of Assam.

Taking part in the deliberation Mr. Badal informed the delegation about the new system being adopted by the State Government to impart quality education to the under privileged section of the society in the rural areas. While explaining this unique concept of establishing Adarsh Schools in the State Mr. Badal said the destiny of any Nation could only be shaped by imparting quality education to our children.

Highly impressed members of the delegation appreciated the efforts of the state Government for establishing Adarsh Schools and invited the teachers’ delegation from Punjab to visit Assam.

It may be recalled here that CTE is a Non Government Organization (NGO) working to insure high standards in education all over the country through its various state Chapter. The delegation has also visited various schools and colleges in Jalandhar, Amritsar Bathinda, Mansa and Firozpur districts.

Other members of delegation included Dr. Nilima Baagbati President Council for Teacher Education Assam, Dr. Gayatry Goswami, Dr. Dulumoni Goswami, Dr Gagat Swaegiary, Dr. Asomi Gogoi, Dr. Anan Auzareia Bora, Dr. Jinat Chetia.
The delegation also accompanied by the members of CTE Punjab Chapter which included Dr. Dev Raj Vij President CTE Punjab Chapter, Dr. S.S.Sangha Princiapl Dasmesh Girls College of Education Badal, Dr. Satinder Dhillon National Vice Presedent CTE, Dr. Khushvinder Kumar Former Member CTE Punjab Chapter, Dr. Jagdish Kaur Principal Dev Samaj College of Education Firozpur, Dr. Kanchan Kohli Principal DIPS College of Education Dhilwan.